title: Examining health care costs among MANNA clients and a comparison group.
abstract: Chronically ill populations have a strong need for quality public health nutrition services to aid in disease management and improve health outcomes. Evidence suggests that neglecting the importance of adequate nutrition in chronically ill patients has far-reaching implications on the health status of the individual and the health care costs. Research is currently lacking a focus on this topic. This pilot study done through the nonprofit organization MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance), which serves the greater Philadelphia area, explored the health care expenditures of 65 MANNA clients over time in comparison with a similar group of Medicaid patients who did not receive MANNA services. Health care expenditures were examined before and after clients began receiving services. The study found that the mean monthly health care costs decreased for three consecutive months after initiation of MANNA services. Other health care cost-related factors, such as inpatient costs, length of stay, and number of hospital admissions also displayed a downward trend. These results help show the significance of medical nutrition therapy and home-delivered meal services on overall health care.
authors.affiliation: OMG Center for Collaborative Learning, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gurvey
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daugherty
authors.forename: Cyndi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dinger
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmeling
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laverty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D063105:Food Assistance / Q000191:economics*; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit; D015143:Philadelphia; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States
keywords: disease management; health outcomes; impact evaluation; managed care; program evaluation